UPI NewsTrack Sports

Iverson reported out for personal matter

MEMPHIS, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson has left the team to handle a personal matter, The Commercial Appeal reported Saturday.

The Memphis newspaper said Iverson was given permission to fly to Atlanta where he lives in the off-season. It wasn't known when the guard, who is in his first season with the NBA club, will return.

Iverson, 34, missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury. He has come off the bench to play in three games, a situation that led the nine-time All-Star to express dissatisfaction with his status.

He averaged 12.3 points and 3.7 assists in about 22 minutes in those three games.

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3 Phillies going under the knife

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez, closer Brad Lidge and reliever Scott Eyre are all to have surgery this coming week, the team said Saturday.

Ibanez, 37, will have a sports hernia repaired Monday by Dr. Bill Meyers.

Ibanez hit .272 with a career-high 34 homers and 93 runs batted in for the Phillies in an injury-plagued season. He was 14-for-54 with two homers, 13 RBI and 17 strikeouts in 15 post-season games as Philadelphia reached the World Series for a second straight time.

Lidge, 32, is to have loose material removed from his right elbow Wednesday by Dr. Michael Ciccotti and will also have his right flexor/pronator tendon evaluated.

The right-hander had a 7.21 earned-run average in 67 appearances, notching 31 saves but blew 11 in the regular season. He did not allow a run in five of six playoff appearances, but was tagged with the Phillies' Game 4 loss to the New York Yankees in the Series.

Ciccotti also is to operate on Eyre, 37, Monday to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The left-hander had a 1.50 ERA in 30 innings over 42 appearances this season.

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Pistons' Prince out with back injury

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince's ruptured disc in his lower back has sidelined him indefinitely.

Prince had played in 496 consecutive games before missing an 85-80 win over the Orlando Magic Tuesday.

He was averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season.

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Pavano, Putz file for free agency

NEW YORK, N.M., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The major league free-agency list got longer Saturday when pitchers Carl Pavano and J.J. Putz entered the market.

Pavano was 14-12 with a 5.10 earned-run average in 33 games for Cleveland and Minnesota this year. The Twins purchased his services in August and he helped them in their drive to the American League Central Division championship.

Putz, who was with the New York Mets, missed most of the 209 season after having surgery on his right elbow. The Mets paid him $1 million rather than pick up the $9.1 million they would have had to pay him to play in 2010.

He was 1-4 with two saves and a 5.22 ERA in 19 games in his first season with New York.

Since the World Series, 120 players have filed for free agency.